Attachment 3
                                 
                                 
SWPSG/700

SUBJECT:  Status of Human Volunteers in Bio-medical
          Experimentation

TO:       Assistant Secretary of Defense
            (Health & Medicine)
          Office, Secretary of Defense
          Washington 25, D.C.
          ATTN:  Colonel Sheldon S. Brownton

     1.   In carrying out its responsibilities with regard to the
public release of atomic energy information under the provisions
of Department of Defense Directives Nos. S-5400.2, dated 22
September 1952, and 5230.4, dated 26 November 1952, the Office of
Public Information require Headquarters, Armed Forces Special
Weapons Project to review and comment on releases involving the
military application of atomic energy.  The scope of review of
documents taken by this headquarters is limited to the following:

          a.  Comment is made from the security classification
standpoint of the military application of atomic energy.

          b.  Comment is made on technical inaccuracies from the
stand point of the military application of atomic energy.

     2.   In implementing this policy, the Surgeon, Headquarters,
AFSWP, is frequently required to review documents containing Bio-
medical experimental data obtained either by laboratory studies
or from atomic weapons tests.  Some of these documents contain
data contained by, and make reference to, the use of human
volunteers as test subjects.

     3.   The Surgeon also review all proposals for Bio-medical
research projects programmed at atomic weapons tests by other
agencies as well as initiating and sponsoring such proposals. 
Some of these projects include the use of human volunteers.

                                 
                                 
SWPSG/700
Subject:  Status of Human Volunteers in Bio-Medical
          Experimentation

     4.   At the present time, this headquarters is reviewing a
technical report entitled "Flash Blindness" which mentions the
fact that human volunteers were employed during atomic weapons
tests conducted in 1951.  Subsequent reports from later tests on
the same subject contain comparable references as well as
referring to at least two instances in which volunteers were
injured as a consequence of taking part in field experiments. 
Because of the implications involved due to these injuries, it is
felt that a definite need exists for guidance in the use of human
volunteers as experimental subjects.

     5.   It is therefore requested that this headquarters be
advised if such guidance is available and, if so, that a copy of
the policy directive be made available for reference.  If such
policy guidance has not been formulated, it is recommended that
such be done and given the widest possible dissemination to
preclude the occurrence of unintentional violations or incidents
by research investigators.

                         IRVING L. BRANCH
                         Colonel, USAF
                         Actg. Chief of Staff


DISTR:  FOR THE CHIEF, AFSWP
Cys  1 & 2 (letterhead) to address
Cy   3 (green) to AG
Cy   4 (yellow) to AG
Cy   5 (pink) to AG
Cy   6 (white) Medical Branch reading file
Cy   7 (white) Medical Branch comeback file copy


                              (SEE NEXT PAGE FOR (M/R)

Lt. Col. Browning/mef/1B699A/52793
SECOND PAGE REWRITTEN Major Miller/ned/1B699A/52793
  3-5-54


M/R:  In Nov 53 it was learned that there existed a T/S document
signed by the Secretary of Defense which listed various
requirements and criteria which had to be met by individuals
contemplating the use of human volunteers in Bio-medical or other
types of experimentation.  Since this information was of
particular importance to this office in classifying and/or
releasing information on the Flash Blindness programs at weapons
tests, attempts were made to learn of the nature of these
requirements.  On 24 January 1954, Lt. Colonel Browning and Major
Miller had a conference with the Executive Assistant to the
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health and Medical) at which time
it was learned that although this document details very definite
and specific steps which must be taken before volunteers may be
used in experimentation, no serious attempt has been made to
disseminate the information to those experimenters who had a
definite need-to-know.  The lowest level at which it had been
circulated was that of the three Secretaries of the Services. 
The Assistant Secretary and his Executive agree that the document
should be downgraded but have not been able to obtain concurrence
from Dr. Hannah nor from the Judge Advocate.  It was suggested
that this office prepare a letter for the Assistant Secretary in
which was detailed our need for this information and the manner
in which we were handicapped through ignorance of the provisions
of this document.  It is intended that this letter shall point up
the need for some relaxation of the grip in which this document
is now held, at least on a definite need-to-know basis.






Lt. Colonel Browning/mef/1B699A/52793
SECOND PAGE REWRITTEN Major Miller ned/1B699A/52793
  3-5/54

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